I hope you don't mind me popping by to post this on here. I have to say though, my time here as a Free Spirit has shaped my entire ethos when it comes to rowing, and sharing what I do totally for free on YouTube. So hopefully that means it's ok? To celebrate almost getting to 30,000 subscribers on ...

obirobsan wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:27 pm Thanks, John -- I appreciate your return to send me some personalized tips!!

It's my pleasure, FS will also be my Spiritual home when it comes to rowing and community. I may have left the nest and ended up setting up RowAlong - but I took a large part of here with me.

John

Excuse me while I flex my fingers!! Plummy sent up the FS signal, and I've popped on to help with some tips for you. When you're travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow (or the other way round) take a detour through Stirling so you can check out Stirling Castle - but more importantly Wallace Monument ...

I promoted the Grid on the main forum a while back John, but feel free to highlight it again. Ah, I might just pop back when it's running then and say it has kicked off, but still time to join in. On the one hand I want as many people to know about it as possible, but I also know there are the ...

Hi everyone, It's been a while since I popped back here to say hello. Even though I moved on from Free Spirits, had a brief jaunt with FM and now run my own team, I still consider myself a Free Sprirt. The FS hoodie hasn't become a rag for painting in - which is always a good sign!!! I made a video ...

Hey Jon, As you got in touch about this - I thought I'd reply here, just to continue this thread, rather than just an off-shoot. (Hey Mr Plumb!) I think the flaws in the 10spm have been covered well by Spider and Plummy. You look very tense and mechanical - remember, the sequencing is meant to flow ...

I am starting the 5k training next week. Very well done John!! I'm doing that programme at the moment (well I am dipping in and out of it anyway). It is excellent (apart from John's jokes and maths). Haha. My jokes are awesome!!! ;/) I’m so pleased some of you have found this. I really think that m ...

Hahah. Sometimes I think you’re right. A great bunch where I am, but I’ve never been as good as when I was Free.

And that’s awesome that you’ve seen my videos!! I’m really pleased you like them.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to stop by to show that even though I've moved to other pastures, you guys will always be my "Spirit" animal when it comes to rowing. I have a YouTube channel where I row some workouts for people to do at the same time, and the one I did this week I threw on my Free ...

Aw, thanks guys.

I may row with a FM shirt nowadays, but trust me, I'll always be a Free Spirit.

John

Great to hear from you John. Feels like a long time since we used to bump into each other on RowPro 30-minute sessions. I hope you are well. I'm well thanks. A bit injured, but apart from that, well. I'm doing the Sunday morning RowPro's most weeks (10:00) - but don't have much of a chance for the ...

I hope you don't mind me popping back on here to post about this. Although I row under another banner nowadays, my days with FS have still been the most relaxed and socially happy times I've had - and I've never rowed as fast as I did when I was a Free Spirit. (Starts to wonder why he left ...

I get ya. There's a line you have to cross to push yourself past what you normally consider pushing past!! But I convince myself that this is why I do it. I don't think (right now) I could train for the sake of it. Being an "almost" gives me drive. It's painful, I'd rather be the best and not have ...

John, What does doubling down mean? Focus. I've been putting in the meters, doing the sessions - but the races last week and yesterday reveal how much I leave myself with at the end of training sessions. Whether it's making excuses when it gets tough and not pushing on, or whether it's taking the ...

I didn't spot any unfortunately. Thanks for sharing my time. Not too pleased with it - I'd have missed a medal anyway, the three that got em were plain faster than me. But having done 6:38 last week, I was hoping to PB. (6:37.8) Must double my efforts if I have any thoughts of next year. Hope ...

Yeah, the 10 minute warm up was not the best, huh?

And well done Morten! That was an outstanding effort.

Nope, you're 100% bang on with this. I'm not sure about 6:39 but 6:32 I'd really want to be capable of. But a 1k is a different animal - in my head at least. I need to train 1500 at 1:38 I think, to convince myself I could do it Happy it was an entertaining race though!! Bloody painful afterwards ...

You may recall I have fled the Free Spirit nest - but yesterday marked the last time I'd race with Free Spirits against my name. Albeit dressed head to toe in Fitness Matters gear! But I entered when I was still a Free Spirit, and therefore it was against my name and I tried to make the old team ...

Hey Jill! I'm still kinda here. I'm not going to remove myself from the forum, as regardless what team I row for, I'll still be a Free Spirit at heart. I started my journey here, and will forever remain. Plus, I've got a Free Spirit hoodie with my name sewn into it - I'd have to throw it in the bin ...

Yeah, that was Sam's event. When you look at all the promotion he puts into Fitness Matters, it's no wonder he has so many members. But it's true that if you put in the effort (and are successful yourself!) people will gravitate. Chris Chapman won the heavyweight in 16:41.x I think - so would have ...

Hey everyone, Just a quick one to say I won the lightweight event at the DIRC yesterday! 17:36.6 was a nice PB to get (would have loved sub 17:30, but wasn't to be. My blog has a full report on it if you're interested? http://johntherower.com/5k-at-dirc-in-exeter-bringing-home-gold/ A great event ...

Good!! I need a reason to push if I try this again. Either to stay ahead, or try to catch you.


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Great times everybody!! And a nice improvement Dave! Just had another full on go. Rather pleased with myself if that's allowed? 2916! Ok up until 5 - got a little concerned on the way to 6 but then once I got down to 100 strokes to go it was maths. Got to 30 and went for power at the same rate (a ...

Yes, but also because it's a perfect duration. Longer than a 2k - so it makes a 2k fly by in comparison, and also takes a good chunk out of a 5k too, and as such I'm hoping I won't have to drop too much to complete the 5k next weekend.

John


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Amazing efforts everyone. Too many names to mention since I last posted - but Tako, that was a fantastic effort. I decided to have a run at this at 28spm today - with the only thought being to hold 1:46 on the screen. I got bloody close to my earlier attempt (2864) at 30spm! Will likely have another ...